New to DVD and On Demand Releases for April 16 - 22

16 April 2017

VIEW FROM THE COUCH

By Jay Bobbin Zap2it(Ratings for each film begin with a "star'' rating -- one star meaning "poor,'' four meaning "excellent'' -- followed by the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and then by a family-viewing guide, the key for which appears below.)

Releasing this Week:"The Founder": If you've ever had a Big Mac or a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, here's the intriguing, true story of the man who ultimately got it into your hands. Michael Keaton plays Ray Kroc, who turned two siblings' (John Carroll Lynch, Nick Offerman) restaurant concept into the iconic franchise McDonald's -- his principal interest being in appropriating the brothers' speedy system for preparing what commonly became known as "fast food.'' John Lee Hancock ("The Blind Side'') directed the tale, which also features Laura Dern, Linda Cardellini and Patrick Wilson. DVD extras: five "making-of'' documentaries; cast-and-filmmaker press conference. *** (PG-13: P) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)"Split": Never one to shy away from eerie themes in his films, writer-director M. Night Shyamalan ("The Sixth Sense'') explores another in this melodrama about a man (James McAvoy) with multiple personalities who kidnaps several girls (Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson, Jessica Sula). Betty Buckley ("Eight Is Enough'') plays his psychiatrist, who clearly has a big challenge in front of her ... as well as a real threat to her safety. Fans of Shyamalan's work are advised to stay put until the very end for a surprise appearance that has definite relevance. DVD extras: three "making-of'' documentaries; deleted scenes; alternate ending. *** (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)"Sleepless": Jamie Foxx returns to "action'' mode in this thriller, inspired by a French film, about a deep-undercover policeman facing danger from all sides after purporting to steal cocaine from a mobster (Scoot McNairy) -- while actually working an Internal Affairs case with his partner (T.I.) to ferret out corrupt cops. The gangster's henchmen then kidnap the detective's son, with their boss threatening to harm the youngster and others unless the drugs are returned by the end of the night. Michelle Monaghan, Dermot Mulroney, Gabrielle Union and David Harbour also are featured. *** (R: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)Also Releasing this Week:"Masterpiece: Home Fires: Season 2": The second and last season of the currently airing PBS drama series begins with Britain on the brink of being invaded in the summer of 1940. Though happy about Nick's (Mark Umbers) return, Sarah (Ruth Gemmell) doesn't have much time to be distraught by information about Adam, given what soon befalls Frances (Samantha Bond). David's fate is uncertain after his ship is attacked. Pat (Claire Rushbrook) grows close to a Czech soldier. Francesca Annis and Rachel Hurd-Wood also star, and those who rent or buy this set as soon as it's released will be able to see the last several episodes before they're televised. *** (Not rated: AS)"Teen Wolf: Season 6, Part 1": Horse-mounted Ghost Riders are big problems for Scott (Tyler Posey) and his friends as they enter the final phase of their high-school careers in this first half of the MTV melodrama's most recent season, which encompassed several episodes directed by Russell Mulcahy ("Highlander''). Anyone who sees the Riders has made a potentially fatal mistake, since that makes the viewer an immediate candidate for elimination -- making Stiles (Dylan O'Brien) and everyone else who attended a certain party a target. Holland Roden, Shelley Hennig and Linden Ashby also star. *** (Not rated: AS, P, V)"Hawaii Five-O: The Complete Original Series": The current CBS series reboot has had a healthy life, but it remains to be seen whether it will match the 12-season run this original version had. Previously the movie screen's first Felix Leiter to Sean Connery's James Bond, Jack Lord became one of television's major stars as intensely cool police-unit chief Steve McGarrett, whose efforts to keep the islands safe mean occasional run-ins with his arch enemy Wo Fat (Khigh Dheigh). Backed by some of the most popular theme music in TV history, the filmed-on-location adventure -- which established a local production infrastructure used by such shows as "Magnum, P.I.'' as well -- also features James MacArthur as Danny Williams (as in, "Book `em, Danno''), along with a host of notable guest stars. *** (Not rated: AS, V)Upcoming Releases:"Underworld: Blood Wars" (April 25): Selene (Kate Beckinsale) tries to navigate between Lycans and vampires, and also to protect her daughter. (R: AS, P, GV)"Catfight" (April 25): College rivals (Anne Heche, Sandra Oh) find their mutual competitiveness hasn't dissipated over the years. (Not rated: AS, P)"La La Land" (April 25): The almost-Oscar winner for best picture took honors for Emma Stone and director Damien Chazelle, among others; Ryan Gosling also stars in the musical. (PG-13: AS, P)"Gold" (May 2): Matthew McConaughey stars in the fact-inspired story of a modern gold prospector who seeks his claim to riches in Indonesia; Bryce Dallas Howard also stars. (R: AS, N, P)"Saturday Night Fever" (May 2): The John Travolta-starring musical drama's 40th anniversary is marked with a ``Director's Cut'' on Blu-ray. (Not rated: AS, N, P, V)"The Space Between Us" (May 16): A teenager (Asa Butterfield) who was born on Mars comes to Earth to rendezvous with an ally (Britt Robertson). (PG-13: AS, P)Oldies But Goodies:"Batman" (1989): Michel Keaton puts a memorably dark spin on the Caped Crusader in director Tim Burton's take on the character. *** (Also on Blu-ray)"Tales from the Hood" (1995): Corpses have stories, too, as this macabre anthology proves in a new Blu-ray "Collector's Edition''; stars include Clarence Williams III and David Alan Grier. ***"A League of Their Own" (1992): A new 25th-anniversary Blu-ray edition of director Penny Marshall's fact-based baseball comedy-drama stars Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna. ***TOP 10 DVD & Blu-Ray Rentals
(Week ending April 2, 2017, Courtesy of comScore)

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